China evacuates citizens from Lebanon, urges security precautions for nationals in Iran

Beijing’s embassy in Beirut confirms dozens evacuated from the country while some embassy staff remain

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Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in the town of Khiam in southern Lebanon on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 6:13pm, 2 Oct 2024Updated: 6:44pm, 2 Oct 2024

More than 200 Chinese citizens along with foreign family members have been evacuated from Lebanon, China’s embassy in Beirut said on Wednesday, as Israel launched a ground offensive into its northern neighbour, raising the prospect of an all-out war in the region.

“On [Tuesday], 146 Chinese citizens in Lebanon and five of their foreign family members arrived safely in Beijing,” the embassy said in a statement. Another 69 Chinese nationals and 11 of their foreign family members had been evacuated to Cyprus aboard a Chinese vessel.

“All Chinese citizens who would like to evacuate [from Lebanon] have been safely evacuated,” the statement said, adding that embassy personnel would remain.

The evacuations came hours after Israel announced what it said were “targeted ground raids” in Lebanon, a move that Tel Aviv claimed were directed at Iran-backed Hezbollah, marking another surge in the year-old Israel-Gaza war.

Chinese evacuees disembark at a port in Cyprus on Tuesday after arriving from Lebanon. Photo: Xinhua

Two Israeli army divisions have been taking part in ground operations in southern Lebanon since Monday. There was no word on casualties.